Our 2011 Victory, Not A Fluke – Asaah

Head Coach of Team Rivers’ Abula squad, Paul Asaah,
has said that the three gold medals won by the team at the ongoing 18th
National Sports Festival (NSF) was proof of the state’s superiority in the
sport.

Asaah told
The Tidesports in Lagos that their victory has also affirmed that their feat at
the 17th edition of the NSF in
Port Harcourt in 2011 was not a fluke.

Team Rivers
also won three gold medals in the sport at the 2011 edition of the NSF held in
Port Harcourt.

“I am the
happiest person on earth today; at least this result is ample evidence that
Rivers did not manipulate the three gold medals we won when we hosted the
competition.

“My athletes
have made me proud and I am motivated to go the extra mile in this sport.

“I am greatly
satisfied and fulfilled with the outcome of this game. I will do it over and
over again because I will not relent,’’he said.

According to
him, Team Rivers would commence preparations immediately for the next edition
of the tournament in Calabar in 2014, so as to be able to defend the title.

Team Rivers
defeated Bayelsa 3-1 in the finals of the male category and Delta 3-0 in the
female category to emerge champions in the sport at the ongoing Games

The Rivers
team equally defeated Bayelsa 3-2 in the mixed doubles to emerge champion in
that category.

Meanwhile,
Stella Briseimo, Head Coach of the Bayelsa team, told Tidesports that Team
Rivers won through luck.

“My athletes
played very well and were determined to win the gold medals but luck was just
not on their side,’’she said.

Briseimo said
that the team would come out stronger in the next edition of the NSF, adding
that no team would be able to defeat them.

Team
Rivers remained undefeated throughout the competition.